An exceptionally large asteroid will be passing by close to Earth on November 29, 2020, around 05:08 UTC. The asteroid is estimated to be between 370 meters to 820 meters. This object could be 2,690 feet in height which is about the size of the Shanghai Tower in Shanghai, China (2,073). The Shanghai Tower is the second tallest building in the world, so that gives you an idea as to how large this object is. The object is traveling around at an extraordinary speed of 25.07 which is around 30,000 mph (miles per hour). The asteroid is known as 153201 and (2000 WO107) and it was discovered 20 years ago on November 29, 2000. This asteroid will give astronomers a chance to study it because it will come so close to Earth. It is classified as an Aten asteroid, a Near-Earth object, and a potentially hazardous asteroid.

A potentially hazardous near-Earth object is an asteroid that has an orbit that can make close approaches to Earth and large enough to cause catastrophic damage in an event of an impact. Even though this asteroid is set to be potentially be hazardous, it is not likely to cause an impact on Earth. Luckily, this time around, this asteroid will be 11. 19 LD away, which puts it around 2.6 million miles away from Earth. It is expected to miss Earth by 2,673,409 miles. Although this asteroid will come very close, it will not be visible to the naked eye. However, for those that do have small telescopes, may be able to catch a glimpse of the object. Due to the asteroid’s relatively large size, astronomers are falling in line to make further studies on it mostly because future flybys will be closer than this year’s passing.  This large asteroid is moving fast and travelling at speeds of 56,080 miles per hour (90,252 km/h) or 25.07 km per second. When astronomers observe these asteroids with their radars, the images that result get to show the asteroid’s shape. Which seems to be fascinating for all to see. Nasa’s NEOWISE has determined that the asteroid’s size is about 510 meters in diameter. Once this asteroid passes on November 29, 2020 it will return and will be slightly closer each year it passes first in November 2040 then again in November 2093. The closest projected flyby will occur on December 1, 2140. All in all, Asteroid 2000 W0107 is estimated to be 1,640 ft (500 meters, aka ½ km) in diameter. When it passes on November 29, 2020, it will pass at 11.19 times the Earth-moon distance which is still a safe distance from Earth.